Surface water chemistry of burned and undisturbed watersheds on the Boreal Plain: an ecoregion approach

One study of conductivity in lakes exhibited a decline post-fire.

“We encountered one study of conductivity in lakes which exhibited a decline post-fire (Allen et al., 2003).”

At least some organic carbon increases in aquatic ecosystems below burned watersheds, especially lakes, are likely attributable to algae.

“At least some organic carbon increases in aquatic ecosystems below burned watersheds, especially lakes, are likely attributable to algae.”

Alkalinity decreases in boreal regions have been attributed both to peatland release of hydrogen ions as well as oxidation of reduced sulfur.

“and this has been attributed both to peatland release of hydrogen ions as well as oxidation of reduced sulfur (Allen et al., 2003; Bayley et al., 1992; Crilly et al., 2017; Lydersen et al., 2014).”

Algal biomass in downstream lakes, especially oligotrophic lakes, often increased in response to dissolved nutrient export from burned watersheds and contributed organic carbon through exudation or lysis.

“Algal biomass in these downstream lakes, especially oligotrophic lakes, often increased in response to dissolved nutrient export from burned watersheds and contributed organic carbon through exudation or lysis (Allen et al., 2003, 2005; McCullough et al., 2019).”

In some lakes, the effect of nutrient enrichment on algal biomass could be dampened by decreased light availability from post-fire dissolved or suspended material.

“Some studies of lakes, however, have shown this effect could be dampened by decreased light availability from post-fire dissolved or suspended material (e.g., Allen et al., 2003).”